Reading the City
April 29 to May 5
Welcome back to Reading the City, a weekly newsletter of bookish events in and around NYC.
It’s one of those weeks when there’s too many things on. I keep trying to pare RtC down, but how do I choose between Amy Tan, Viet Thanh Nguyen, or Maggie Nelson? I didn’t even include Emily Wilson reading The Iliad, because it was already sold out (there’s standing tickets for those who are super keen). Also, a congrats to RtC reader Amy Shearn on the publication of her new book Dear Edna Sloane—check out her launch on Tuesday!
As ever, let me know about your upcoming events or just say hi! And please share the love with your bookish friends.
Monday, April 29
#YeahYouWrite Reading Series
Featuring literary cocktails by Megan Rickerson, dinner, a rapid-fire Q&A, and an open mic, as well as readings from Téa Obreht (The Morningside), Phillip B. Williams (Ours), Chin-Sun Lee (Upcountry), and Ben Purkert (The Men Can't Be Saved). Email lisa@yeahyouwriteevents.com for a spot.
Free; 7pm; Someday Bar, 364 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn
Bill Weir: Life as We Know it (Can Be)
CNN’s chief climate correspondent and host of The Wonder List Bill Weir launches Life As We Know It (Can Be)—explores our changing world to confront the threats to the planet and search for proven ways to build happier, healthier, and more resilient communities, come what may—in conversation with Dan Harris (10% Happier).
Free; 7-9pm; Powerhouse Arena, 28 Adams Street, Brooklyn
World Transexual Forum
Anton Solomonik and Jeanne Thornton’s World Transsexual Forum asks: What is “Girl Work”? Sign up for the open mic and join poet and essayist Zefyr Lisowski (Girl Work) to talk about monstrosity, being dead (vs not), objectification, and literary dead girl tropes, amongst other topics.
Free; 7pm sign-up, 8pm readings; Franklin Park, 618 St Johns Place, Brooklyn
Herbal Supplements Reading Series
A monthly series spotlighting queer, trans, and BIPOC cross-genre readers and musicians, hosted by Jules Rivera, and taking palce at natural wine bar Cherry On Top, this features Charlie Flynn, Avery jay, Chelsea Fonden, Bella Osorio, Tara Giancaspro, Josie Melendez, and Young Pheebus.
Free, but donations for the writers encouraged; 8pm; Cherry On Top, RSVP for the address
Tuesday, April 30
Amy Shearn: Dear Edna Sloane
Amy Shearn, author and Writing Co-Lab cofounder, celebrates the publication of her latest book Dear Edna Sloane—an original epistolary novel about the literary world and what it means to be a creative person today—in conversation with Carley Moore (Panpocalypse).
Free; 6.30-8pm; Lofty Pigeon Books, 743 Church Avenue Brooklyn
History, Legacy, Friendship: Lisa Ko & Crystal Kim
Lisa Ko (The Leavers) and Crystal Hana Kim (If You Leave Me) celebrate their newly published novels, Memory Piece and The Stone Home, and explore themes of history, legacy, and friendship in their work. Part of the New York Public Library’s World Literature Festival.
Free; 6pm; Chatham Square Library, 33 East Broadway, New York
Uche Okwonko: A Kind of Madness
Uche Okwonko discusses her newest book, A Kind of Madness—a searing, unflinching collection of stories set in Nigeria that explores themes of community expectations, familial strife, and the struggle for survival—in conversation with 2023 Whiting Award-winning author Sidik Fofana.
$5, redeemable in store; 7pm; P&T Knitwear, 180 Orchard Street, New York
On America: Nell Irvin Painter on I Just Keep Talking with Doreen St. Félix
Nell Irvin Painter (The History of White People) celebrates her new essay collection I Just Keep Talking—compiling essays from Painter’s career, spanning art, politics, racism, and identity—in conversation with New Yorker staff writer Doreen St. Félix. Post-event reception to follow.
$10; 7pm; The Center for Fiction, 15 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn
The Greenlight Poetry Salon
The Greenlight Poetry Salon, hosted by poet Angel Nafis, will launch Jeremy Clark's new collection The Trouble With Light, with supporting readings by poets Rigoberto González (To the Boy Who Was Night) , Desiree C. Bailey (What Noise Against the Cane), and Patricia Smith (Unshuttered), to close out National Poetry Month. Wine reception to follow.
Free; 7.30pm; Greenlight bookstore, 686 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
Wednesday, May 1
Maggie Nelson: Like Love
Presented by Books Are Magic, Maggie Nelson (The Argonauts) discusses Like Love—a career-spanning collection of inspiring, revelrous essays about art and artists—in conversation with Darcey Steinke (Easter Everywhere).
$10.89; 7-8pm; The Bell House, 149 7th Street Brooklyn, and livestreamed
Poetry Reading Vale of Cashmere
This sounds lovely. A poetry reading at the Vale of Cashmere in Prospect Park with Dolan Morgan, Monique Erickson, Peter Carellini, Ariana Geneson, Ed Pankov, and featuring Robert Lashley (Green River Valley), organized by Sarah Galvin.
Free; 6.30pm; Vale of Cashmere, Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Thursday, May 2
Viet Thanh Nguyen: A Man of Two Faces
BPL Presents welcomes Viet Thanh Nguyen (The Sympathizer) to discuss his memoir, A Man of Two Faces—about his life as a father and a son, expanding on the memoir genre to acknowledge larger stories of refugeehood, colonization, and ideas about Vietnam and America. He is joined in conversation by Matthew Salesses (The Sense of Wonder).
Free; 7-8.30pm; Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn
Amy Tan: The Backyard Bird Chronicles
Amy Tan (The Joy Luck Club) presents The Backyard Bird Chronicles—a gorgeous, witty account in drawing and essays of birding, nature, and the beauty around us that hides in plain sight.
$10.89; 7-8pm; The Invisible Dog Art Center, 51 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, and livestreamed
Geoffrey Mak: Mean Boys
Geoffrey Mak presents Mean Boys—A ferocious inquiry into art and desire, style and politics, madness and salvation, and coming of age in our volatile, image-obsessed present—in conversation with Marco Roth, the cofounder and former editor of n+1 magazine. (There’s also a special Writing on Raving reading series and afterparty for the book launch at Paragon on Friday 3rd).
$5 for RSVP, redeemable in-store; 7pm; McNally Jackson Seaport, 4 Fulton St, New York
AAWW & Kundiman Present: Emerging Writers in Conversation
Asian American Writers’ Workshop and Kundiman host a conversation between notable emerging writers Hannah Bae, Gina Chung, Jen Lue, and Rajat Singh,
AAWW, 112 West 27th Street #600, New York, and via live stream
Rally Reading Series
Described as “the heart of a march in the body of a reading series,” this month Rally welcomes Wei Tchou, Dena Igusti, and Sarah Wang to the stage.
Free; 7pm; Pete's Candy Store, 709 Lorimer St, Brooklyn
Neel Mukherjee with Hanya Yanagihara: Choice
Neel Mukherjee (The Lives of Others) speaks with fellow author Hanya Yanagihara (A Little Life) about his latest book, an explosive novel about the ramifications of choice.
Free; 7-8pm; The New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, 42nd Street & 5th Avenue, New York
Jack Lowrey: It Was Vulgar & It Was Beautiful
Paperback release party for It Was Vulgar & It Was Beautiful: How AIDS Activists Used Art to Fight a Pandemic with author Jack Lowrey in conversation with Grace Byron.
Free; 7pm; Topos Too, 5922 Myrtle Ave. Ridgewood, Queens
Friday, May 3
Tense: Opus Madness
The Locker Room hosts Tense Presents, produced by
of Beckett’s salon and Cara Seymour. Expect a night of performances and frivolity, with readings from Matilda Lin Berke, Gordon Glasgow (), Nico Walker, Will Chancellor, Sophie Madeline Dess, and Kitty St. Remy, and music from Colin Brookes.$23.18; 8-11pm; The Locker Room, 373 South 1st Street, Brooklyn
Sophie Ratcliffe and Adam Gopnik
Sophie Ratcliffe and Adam Gopnik celebrate the release of their new books, A Love Story: Imagined Histories and Brief Encounters and All That Happiness Is.
$5 for RSVP, redeemable in-store; 7pm; McNally Jackson Seaport, 4 Fulton St, New York
Sunday, May 5
Mike McCormack: This Plague of Souls
Mike McCormack, author of Booker-listed Solar Bones, discusses his new novel, the terse metaphysical thriller This Plague of Souls, with Caroline Heafey, the assistant director of Glucksman Ireland House NYU, a co-sponsor of the event.
Free; 7-8pm; Book Club Bar, 197 East 3rd Street New York
Booking Ahead…
National Book Foundation Celebrates 5 Under 35
Join the National Book Foundation to celebrate its 2024 5 Under 35 honorees, including Antonia Angress (Sirens & Muses), Maya Binyam (Hangman), Zain Khalid (Brother Alive), Tyriek White (We Are a Haunting), and Jenny Tinghui Zhang (Four Treasures of the Sky). The evening will include remarks and readings, hosted by Emmy-nominated comedian and writer Karen Chee, and Books Are Magic.
$10.89; 7-9pm; St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church, 157 Montague Street, Brooklyn
NB. Please check all details before attending, the fact checker went awol.
I’m a Brooklyn-based writer, editor, and teacher, and the author of No Way Home: A Memoir of Life on the Run (St. Martin’s Press) and Amphibian (forthcoming, 2024). I’m here and here on Instagram. Get in touch with any bookish events you’d like me to include!
Thanks for including my book launch, Tyler— and for creating this incredibly helpful newsletter! ❤️